ARIZONA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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HB 2589: department of gaming omnibus |
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PRIME SPONSOR: Representative Cook, LD 8 BILL STATUS: Chaptered
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Relating to the regulation of the Arizona
Department of Gaming.
Provisions
1. Modifies the Arizona Racing Commission (Commission) by adding an additional member of the horse or harness racing industry and removes the dog racing industry member. (Sec. 1)
2. Increases the licensing period from three to five years maximum. (Sec. 2)
3. Rewrites and clarifies the Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts provisions and places the language into its own separate section of statute, directly under the regulatory authority of the Department. (Sec. 5)
4. Establishes the Unarmed Combat Subaccount Fund within the Fund. (Sec. 5)
5. Contains Session Law as follows:
a. Confirms the retention of members on the Commission and authorizes their replacements through governor appointment as terms expire. (Sec. 9)
b. Exempts the Department from rulemaking for one year after this legislation's effective date to adopt pertinent rules that include a pari-mutuel wager. (Sec. 10)
c. Establishes the Rural County Fair Racing Fund administered by the Department as follows: (Sec. 11)
i. Transfers $200,000 in FY 2019 from the Fund to the Rural County Fair Racing Fund.
ii. Directs the Department to set up matching grants for application by counties with a population of less than 800,000 persons if they operate county fair racing.
iii. Charges the Commission with establishing application requirements, reviewing all applications and distributing grants on a first come, first serve basis.
iv. Excludes counties unless they contribute county fair revenues of a minimum 50% of the grant amount.
v. Caps the grant awards for any county to a maximum $40,000 during any FY.
vi. Repeals the grant program on July 1, 2020 and transfers any unspent/unencumbered monies remaining in the Rural County Fair Racing Fund to the Fund.
6. Removes obsolete language and makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1- 4, 6 - 8).
Current Law
Arizona Racing Commission
The Arizona Racing Commission consists of five members appointed by the governor, who have been Arizona residents for at least five years before their appointment (A.R.S. § 5-103)
The Arizona Racing Commission's duties include, in part: issuing racing dates; preparing and adopting rules for meetings to protect and promote the safety and welfare of animals participating in racing meets; protecting and promoting the public health and safety during racing and pari-mutuel wagering; conducting hearings on applications for permits and reviewing all applications for capital improvements at racetracks. (A.R.S. § 5-104)
Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission
Laws 2015, Chapter 19, placed the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission (Boxing and MMA Commission) under the Department of Gaming, Division of Racing. Laws 2016, Chapter 22, continued the Boxing and MMA Commission for two years, until July 1, 2018.
The Boxing and MMA Commission consists of three members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve three year terms (A.R.S. § 5-223). The Boxing and MMA Commission licenses fighters, promoters, trainers, managers and officials to ensure that all laws and rules are followed (A.R.S. § 5-228).
Additional Information
HB 2170
this session 
(boxing; mixed martial arts; continuation)
continues the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission for eight
years until July 1, 2026.
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Fifty-third Legislature HB 2589
Second Regular Session Version 5: Chaptered
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